Track-motor



L. J. GOTTO.

4 TRACK MOTOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR-29, 1920- Patented Nov. 16, 1920,

@WM LOUIS r T Euncu UNITED STATES LOUIS J. GOTTO, F GREEN BAY, WISGO1\TSIN.

TRACK-MOTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 29, 1920. Serial no. 369,540."

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS J. Gorro, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Green Bay, in the county of Brown and State of \Visconsimhav invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track- Motors; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates broadly to new and useful improvements in power producing mechanisms, particularly t that type which are actuated by waste energy of other machines.

Specifically the invention pertains to motors for driving any type of machinery and the primary object is to provide a motor of this character which can be actuated by the passage of railway cars andsimilar vehicles over their track rails.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a series of simply constructed motors which can be mounted at the side of a railway rail so that they Wlll be successively actuated by the flanges of the vehicle heels which run on said rail.

lVith these general objects in view the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter more particularly described and claimed and shown in the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 represents an elevational view 01 a pair of rail fragments to each of which one of my improved motors is connected, one of said motors being shown in elevation and the other in section, and

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Since it is entirely immaterial how the energy generated by my invention is used, I have not illustrated any particular means for collectin and applying such energy. It will be (iwious, however, that various types of driven machinery, such as dynamos and pumps, can be operated through the use of the invention. Likewise many changes may be mad in th different parts of th invention and in the manner of mounting the same without departing from the principles thereof or sacrificing any of the advantages.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the reference character R denotes a railroad rail of standard des gn having a head 1, a base 2 and a connecting web 3. Secured at intervals to one side of the rail isa plurality ofmy improved motors M, the same being connected by ahori zontal shaft 4. ThlS- shaft may be of any desired length and extends midway 'between' tion, a combined head engaging and guidev portion in which a guide 18 formed, and a base engaging foot 7, the free end of the same having; a hook like portion 8 disposed over the e go of the rail base 2. Bolt 9 extend through the web of the rail and the intermediate portion of the bracket to securely clamp the latter in rigid position upon the rail.

The intermediate part of the bracket 5 has a pair of horizontally disposed spaced bearing rms 10 projecting therefrom in which the shaft l is rotatably mounted. A gear 11 is loosely disposed on the shaft 4 be tween the pair of bearing arms and is held against rotation in one direction with rep nt to the shaft by means of a ratchet 12 and pawl 13. The former is keyed to the shaft 4 and the latter is carried by the gear 11.

The guide 6 is dapted to slidably receive a block 14; in the form of a lungerhead which normally is disposed so t at its upper surface is substantially flush with the top of the rail head 1. A rack 15 depends from the plunger head and is disposed between the bearin arms 10 with its teeth in engagement with t e teeth of the g ar 11. A guide roller 16 journaled between the free ends of the bearing arms 10 engages the plane surface of the rack 15 and coeperates with the guide 6.

The lower end of the rack 15 is extended to form a plunger stem 17 which is vertically movable in a socket 18. This socket is carried b th bracket foot 7 and houses a sprin 19 which normally exerts its tension to urge the stem and consequently the plunger head upwardly.

In the use of the invention, it is obvious that when the flange of a railroad car wheel engages the plunger head 14, the same 1s forced downwardly with a like movement of the rack and rotation of the gear 11. The gear being locked to the shaft 4; when ro- V Patented Nov..1e,.1e2o.

tated in this direction by means of the pawl and ratchet, said shaft Will be revolved in order to drive any suitabl mechanism with which it may be connected. Upon the disengagement of the Wheel flang from the plunger head, the latter is returned to nor- Inal position by the expansion of the spring By having a plurality I claim: y Th combination with a track rail of a bracket carried by the rail, a shaft journaled in the bracket, a gear loosely mounted on the shaft, a plunger including a rack en- .gaged with the gear and dapted to be reci arocated by the vehicle movable over the ra1l,.and means for locking the gear to the shaft when the plunger moves in one direction.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I h ve hereunto set my hand at Green Bay,

in the county of Brovvn and State of Wisconsin. v

LOUIS J. GOTTO. 

